DEBBIE ALLEN photographed by DAN DOPERALSKI in Los Angeles, CA on May 23, 2019

Debbie Allen.

Hear her name, see her face, watch her perform and we bet you will smile… but when did you first encounter the incomparable Ms. Allen?

It’s been forty years since Debbie Allen, now 70, blazed her name across the annals of TV history with her iconic portrayal of dance teacher Lydia Grant, in FAME. Multi-talented, brilliant and driven, she has left her mark in almost every realm of the entertainment industry; dancer, choreographer, actress, director, producer, ambassador, teacher and winner of the NAACP Image, Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

We are indeed privileged to have Debbie as a member of the Carr Center artistic team, now entering her third year as Resident Artist in Dance and partner of our Summer Dance and Musical Theatre Intensives along with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

During these introspective days, as we reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, we thought you might enjoy watching videos of the one and only Debbie Allen doing what she does like nobody else can!

34th Tony Awards: June 8, 1980 West Side Story 1980 Broadway revival " America "

57th Academy Awards: March 1985 "Footloose", nominated for Best Original Song

Fall 1982, First season TV series FAME, "Ribbon in the Sky", Stevie Wonder

We hope you enjoy these videos as much as we did!